OVER THE COUNTER: Slim down, shape up to prevent diabetes

Tuesday

As if we needed another reason to keep our body weight at a healthy level, here’s one more: It may help prevent us from becoming diabetic.

In fact, being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Newly published numbers show that, unfortunately, we’re not following the advice of our health providers and we’re actually gaining more pounds, putting us at an ever higher risk of becoming diabetic. This is especially true among the young.

At last count, close to 20 percent of kids and nearly 40 percent of adults were obese, according to a report published recently by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

At the same time, diabetes has been on the rise among children and teens. In fact, more than 29 million people in the U.S. now have the condition.

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, and both alter the way the body handles glucose, a type of sugar that acts as an important fuel for the brain and for muscle and tissue cells. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to high blood glucose levels and require intervention, typically with insulin, which helps keep blood sugar levels in check when the body can’t do so naturally. There’s also gestational diabetes, but that’s typically resolved after pregnancy and causes few problems as long as it’s properly managed, monitored and treated.

Despite their similarities, type 1 and type 2 diabetes have several key differences. Type 1 is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and there is no known way to prevent it. Essentially, the condition prevents the pancreas from producing insulin. This disease is relatively rare.

Type 2 diabetes, however, is increasingly common. While it is also affected by genetics and environmental factors, type 2 diabetes is largely preventable in most people. It’s also commonly preceded by what’s called “pre-diabetes.” Type 2 diabetes is our focus here. The vast majority of diagnosed cases of diabetes is of this type.

You could think of type 2 diabetes in the same way you think of high blood pressure. The condition, for example, often follows a period in which it can be reversed by lifestyle changes, kind of like prehypertension. It also often comes on “silently,” with few symptoms. Many people have the condition and don’t know it. But, like hypertension, if left untreated, diabetes can have dangerous consequences. Over time, if blood glucose levels are left uncontrolled, the kidneys, eyes and nerves can become damaged. The disease can also invite other complications and is potentially life threatening because of the problems associated with it.

Typical symptoms of diabetes include feeling thirsty frequently and urinating more than usual. Fatigue and weight loss are also common. If you have concerns over these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor.

But even if you have no symptoms of the disease, you should still consider how to prevent it. The steps you would take will bring all the benefits of having a healthy lifestyle. For example, eating a diet that’s low in fat and processed foods and that’s high in fiber, fruits and vegetables will go a long way to protecting your body from developing diabetes. A consult with a dietitian can be helpful in developing and sustaining a healthy diet. Swapping out certain foods and planning ahead for meals can contribute to a much healthier diet. It is worth checking your health insurance to see what might be covered with respect to diet.

Also important are losing excess fat and exercising regularly. Just walking 30 minutes during lunch break at work can be enough to help stave off the condition for many people. Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in control can also put you at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Supplements may help, too. Those with berberine, cinnamon, and alpha lipoic acid may help support blood sugar balance and cardiovascular health. Research has shown that cinnamon may help in treatment of type 2 diabetes. Other studies have found that berberine may help regulate glucose metabolism.

If you’re at high risk, your doctor may also offer a type of medication, known as metformin. But lifestyle changes can help about as much as the medication for many people, and the combination of the two are critical to optimal results.

For those who have diabetes, maintaining healthy habits is critical. In fact, for some people with type 2 diabetes, it can be all the treatment that’s needed, along with regular blood sugar monitoring, at least for many years. Others will have to take some type of insulin or other medication sooner. These medicines may include sulfonylureas or thiazolidinediones.

There are also new medications such as SGLT2 inhibitors that prevent the kidneys from releasing sugar into the blood and instead rid it through the urine. And, there are more possibilities coming. Researchers in Amsterdam, for example, are investigating a potential therapy that destroys the small intestine’s mucous membrane and appears to lead to the stabilization of blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients long after the lining returns.

While novel treatments may show great promise for the disease, the best one may just be the oldest: Eating right and exercising.

Gary Kracoff has a degree in naturopathic medicine and is a registered pharmacist and John Walczyk is a compounding pharmacist at Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham, Mass. For more information, visit www.naturalcompounder.com. Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can email gary@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.